Sunday, 2 October 2016

Tharman, the almost perfect NSman.

DPM Tharman
Shanmugaratnam has spoken and he has spoken firmly. He said, “Just to be
absolutely clear, because I know there's this talk going around ... I'm not the
man for PM, I say that categorically. It's not me.”

Well, the
people’s choice is not always the person’s choice. And maybe the consideration
for the people's choice is somewhat different from that of the cabinet's
choice? Go figure.

That said,
DPM Tharman is a man of many talents and holds many portfolios. Besides serving
as a DPM since 2011, he is also Chairman of the MAS and currently heads the IMF
monetary and financial committee. And before that, he was a minister for
education and minister for finance. If you think about it, he is a shoo-in as
the people's choice for being the next PM, even the next President.

But this man
has found his niche and he is content to serve it well. "I know myself, I
know what I can do and it's not me. I'm good at policy-making, good at advising
my younger colleagues and supporting the PM, not being the PM. That's not my
ambition and that's not me," he said.

Clearly, DPM
Tharman is not “ambition-less”. Both in the academic and public realms, he has
done well, even exceptionally.

In the last
election 2015, he was among those rare PAP candidates, past and present, who
was sensible, balanced, fair, humble, and firm. His several short and sweet
“smackdowns” on the opposition demonstrated his political mantle.

In the
contest for Bukit Batok, he told Dr Chee to go do his homework if he doesn’t
understand the economy, jobs and CPF. He told him to be honest about it. He was
therefore no pushover.

But more
than knowing the economy and finances and how they are interconnected both
globally and locally, DPM Tharman humbly followed the proud tradition of the
Socratic self-inquiry or self-examination. He knows his limit. He knows his
strengths. He acknowledges his weaknesses. He submits to them.

This is how
he puts it, “We all have our preferences, and I was always in sports,
centre-half rather than centre-forward; I enjoy playing half-back and making
the long passes, but I am not the striker unless I am forced to be. And I don't
think I'll be forced to it because I think we've got choices."

Well, I
guess he is the Sheringham to Alan Shearer, or the technical director Ross
Brawn to Michael Schumacher. FYI, Brawn was the brain behind Schumacher’s
phenomenal success.

Lesson? Just
one.

We always
think that it is the one at the top that makes the difference. It is the
leaders who shake the world. They are the change-makers and the game-changers.
They lead their nation by the sheer force of their personality, policies and
wit. Their popularity is thus well deserved. They will be remembered in the
history books, read about by generations to come, and emulated in many ways.

But aren't
we forgetting that one swallow does not a summer make, or that a single twig
breaks easily, but a bunch of them is strong and resilient?

A leader
without his trusted and able confidant upon whom he relies and depends on, and
deeply respects for their unbiased and honest opinions, even to the extent of
disagreeing with him when the political rubber meets the reality road, is no
different from a ruthless dictatorship who has zero tolerance for
disagreements, however right, true, helpful or effective they are.

DPM Tharman
understood his invaluable role intimately well when he cited stellar and sagely
lieutenants as his inspiring examples during the LKY era who rather chose to
play “second-fiddle” to the leader. And they did a brilliant job at that

He said,
“Just think back to our early years, when we had people like Dr Goh Keng Swee
and Mr Rajaratnam. Their contributions to Singapore were immense, and till
today they are in a league of their own, but even they would not have been
ideal as a Prime Minister…I mention them as illustration. I myself and no one
in future is going to come close to Dr Goh and Rajaratnam’s contributions to
Singapore, but even they would not have been ideal as Prime Minister."

DPM Tharman
continued with this: “Whoever’s the next Prime Minister will be part of this
team culture. He or she would be first amongst equals, first among equals in a
team…We each find a way to contribute to Singapore, that matches our strengths,
and we each contribute to a strong team."

If anything,
he understands well enough - with humility and foresight - his critical role as
the metaphorical curtain ring that keeps the curtains drawn and open, that
vital hinge that keeps the door open and shut, and one of the monkey bars in
the playground that moves our nation forward from strength to strength. His
role is no doubt hardly seen, but its impact is visibly felt.

On this, DPM
Tharman reminded me of a Mafia organization (minus the negative connotation of
course) where the close and trusted friend and confidant of the mob boss is
called the Consigliere. He is the “mob's version of an elder statesman.”

In most
instances, the Consigliere knows his place in the organization. More
importantly, he thrives and is highly treasured/respected in his secondary/supplementary
role, away from the blinding limelight.

But his role
is of course not a passive one. He is not afraid to stand up for what he thinks
is right and he picks his battle and is discreet enough to know when to retreat
and when to confront his boss. He is the best team-player any organization can
ever hope to have.

Maybe, I
should end with how Socrates described himself as a rather idiosyncratic but no
less valuable Consigliere for the politicians he advised and served during his
time. He wrote: “I am a sort of gadfly, given to the democracy by the gods, and
the democracy is a large, noble horse who is sluggish in its motions, and
requires to be stung into life.”

DPM Tharman
is that sting that keeps the wheels of government moving forward. With that
sting, he dedicates his life and service to make his country a success, and not
so much himself a success - although that is undeniable. Cheerz.

Ps: Well, he did mention
this, "I am not the striker unless I am forced to be." So I guess we
have the best of both worlds here when the time comes for him to step up to
the plate. That is, a man who knows his place, yet ready to serve in all
preparedness. That's the almost perfect NSman for you.